Debates of 25 Oct 2019

MR SPEAKER
PRAYERS 10:28 a.m.
VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS AND THE OFFICIAL REPORT 10:28 a.m.
Mr Speaker 10:28 a.m.
Hon Members, Correction of Votes and Proceedings of Thursday, 24th October, 2019.
Mr Speaker 10:28 a.m.
Hon Members, we have the Official Report of Monday, 15th July, 2019.
Any corrections, therein please?
Mr Ablakwa 10:28 a.m.
I am most grateful, Mr Speaker.
I drew your attention to this particular correction last time, but it has recurred. My good Hon Friend and Brother, Hon Kwame Governs Agbodza -- In column 3623, “Governs” has been misspelt again. This is a House of records. We cannot compromise on the name of Hon Members of Parliament.
So Mr Speaker, if that could be corrected. I am happy that the Hon Member is here today, so he could confirm the true and accurate rendition of his name.
Mr Speaker 10:28 a.m.
Thank you very much.
Hon Members, any further corrections?
Hon Members, in the absence of any further corrections, the Official Report of Monday, 15th July, 2019 as corrected is hereby adopted as the true record of proceedings.
Hon Members, item listed 4; Questions.
Yes, the Hon Minister for Roads and Highways?
rose
Mr Speaker 10:28 a.m.
Yes, Hon Member?
Mr Iddrisu 10:28 a.m.
Mr Speaker, pursuant to Order 53 of our Standing Orders, may I indulge you so that the Hon Majority Leader would present the Business Statement for the coming week.
Mr Speaker, I want the Clerks-at- the-Table to take note, that even on the day of our resumption when Mr Speaker delivered his Opening Address, it was not consistent with Order 53 because there was a communication from the President that must precede any other Business that we do.
Mr Speaker 10:28 a.m.
Hon Member, a communication from the President for that occasion alone cannot precede my welcoming you to the House. [Laughter.] Charity begins at home, and I had to welcome my Hon Members before I tell them what has come from elsewhere.
Hon Majority Leader, is our Business Statement ready? Actually, that was an oversight.
BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE 10:38 a.m.
Chairman of the Business Committee/Majority Leader (Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu) 10:38 a.m.
Mr Speaker,
Introduction
Mr Speaker, the Committee met yesterday, Thursday, 24th October, 2019, and arranged Business of the House for the second week ending Friday, 1st November, 2019.
Mr Speaker, the Committee accordingly submits its Report as follows 10:38 a.m.
Arrangement of Business
Formal Communications by the Speaker
Mr Speaker, you may read any available communication to the House.
Question(s)
Rt. Hon. Speaker, the Business Committee has scheduled the following Ministers to respond to Questions asked of them during the week:
Mr Speaker, the Committee accordingly submits its Report as follows 10:38 a.m.
Question(s)
*618. Mr. Frank Annoh-Dompreh (Nsawam-Adoagyiri): To ask the Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture when the con- tractor involved in the restocking of selected dams and dugouts with four million catfish and fingerlings would be paid accordingly.
*619. Mr. Frank Annoh-Dompreh (Nsawam-Adoagyiri): To ask the Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture what steps are being implemented to ultimately ensure that we have a waiver of tax on aquaculture input materials as a boost to the industry.
*620. Mr. Rockson-Nelson Etse Kwame Dafeamekpor (South Dayi): To ask the Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture when the Tongor- Dzemeni fish landing site will be constructed.
*632. Mr. Mohammed Abdul- Aziz (Mion): To ask the Attorney-General and Minister for Justice the status of the investigation of the complaint made by H. E. the President

against Mr Kwesi Nyantakyi, the former President of the Ghana Football Association

(GFA).

Statements

Presentation of Papers —

(a)Report of the Auditor- General on the Statement of Foreign Exchange Receipts and Payments of the Bank of Ghana for the half year ended 30th June, 2018.

(b) Performance Audit Report of the Auditor-General on the Dismantling and Disposal of Electronic Waste.

(c) Annual Report of the National Pensions Regulatory Authority (NPRA) for the year 2017.

(d) Annual Report and Accounts of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) for the year 2018.

(e) Annual Report of the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) for the year

2015.

(f) Request for waiver of Import Duties, Import VAT, Import NHIL/GETFund Levy, AU Levy, ECOWAS Levy, EXIM Levy and Special Import Levy amounting to the Ghana cedi equivalent of Seven Million, Five Hundred and Sixty-three Thousand, Nine Hundred and Thirty- two euros (€7,563,932.00) on project materials and equipment to be procured under the Modernisation and Equipping of the Tetteh Quarshie Memorial Hospital, Kibi District Hospital, Aburi Hospital and the Atibie Hospital Project.

Motions —

Adoption of the Report of the Committee on Defence and Interior on the conflicts between Fulani herdsmen and farming communities in the country as well as the effects of their cattle on agricultural productivity and security of citizens.

Committee sittings.

Questions --

*631. Mr. Albert Akuka Alalzuuga (Garu): To ask the Minister for Special Development Initiatives the cost per dam under the Infrastructure for Poverty Eradication Programme (IPEP) in the three Northern Regions in 2017 and 2018.

*640. Mr. James Agalga (Builsa North): To ask the Minister for the Interior when Government will set up the National Disaster Fund provided for under the National Disaster Management Organisation Act 2016 (Act 927) to deal with disasters.

*641. Mr. James Agalga (Builsa North): To ask the Minister for the Interior when Government will implement the National Migration Policy which came into force sometime in 2016.

Statements

Motions —

(a) Second Reading of Bills

Narcotics Control Com- mission Bill, 2019.

(b) Adoption of the Report of the Representatives from the Parliament

of Ghana to the Pan-African Parliament on the Second Ordinary Session of the Fifth Parliament of the Pan-African Parliament held from 2nd to 17th May, 2019 in Midrand, South Africa.

Committee sittings

Questions --

*633. Mr. Ekow Hayford (Mfan- tseman): To ask the Minister for Energy when Hasowodze (a farming community) will be connected to the national grid.

*634. Mr. Ekow Hayford (Mfantseman): To ask the Minister for Energy the status of the Saltpond Off-shore Rig De- commissioning Project.

*646. Mrs. Angela Oforiwa Alorwu-Tay (Afadzato South): To ask the Minister for Energy when electricity expansion programme will commence in the following communities in the Afadzato South District: (i) Kpeve Old Town (ii) Kpeve Tornu (iii) Goviefe Todzi (iv) Have (v) Logba (vi) Ve (vii) Nyagbo.
Mr Speaker, the Committee accordingly submits its Report as follows 10:38 a.m.


*647. Mr. Andrew Dari Chiwitey (Sawla/Tuna/Kalba): To ask the Minister for Energy the status of the electrification projects in the following communities: (i) Nasolyiri (ii) Sanyeri (iii) Jelinkow (iv) Kponyiri (v) Seutiepuor (vi) Goyiri.

Statements --

Motions --

That the Constitution (Amend- ment) Bill, 2019 be now read a second time.

(Moved on Monday, 29th July 2019 by the Hon. Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Ms. Gloria Akuffo. Chairman of the Committee on Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, Mr. Ben Abdallah Banda presented the Report on the Bill.)

Decision to be taken pursuant to Standing Order 110(a)

Committee sittings.

Questions --

*650. Mr. Kwadwo Nyanpon Aboagye (Biakoye): To ask the Minister for Roads and Highways when the Teshie Link, i.e. the road from Kofi Annan International Peace Keeping Centre to Spintex Road, will be completed.

*651. Mr. Edwin Nii Lantey Vanderpuye (Odododiodioo): To ask the Minister for Roads and Highways what the Ministry is doing about the following deplorable roads in the Odododiodioo Constituency: (i) Agbogbloshie road (ii) Galloway road (iii) J. O. Ocquaye road (iv) Okaitei Nettey road (v) Amamomo close.

*652. Mr. Fuseini Issah (Okaikwei North): To ask the Minister for Roads and Highways when Logistic Support Services Limited, the contractor who was offered contract number DUR/

HO/GRF/(E)/PM/PART/

OKN/2015/01 to construct selected roads in Okaikwei North, will commence work.

*653. Mr. Fuseini Issah (Okaikwei North): To ask the Minister for Roads and Highways when additional footbridges will be constructed on the N1 stretch

from Apenkwa to Lapaz to avert the number of pedestrian accidents.

*654. Mr. Andrew Dari Chiwitey (Sawla/Tuna/Kalba): To ask the Minister for Roads and Highways, the status of the construction of the Tuna - Kalba road, which was awarded on contract in 2016.

Statements --

Consideration Stage of Bills — Narcotics Control Commission Bill, 2019.

Committee sittings.

Mr Speaker, let me indicate to those of us involved, especially, the Committee on Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, that the workshop on article 181 (5) and the other constitutional provisions that require Parliament's action - and which unfortunately for 27 years have not yet been attended to, including in particular, article 22 (2) and article 181, (5) of the Constitution --

Mr Speaker, we would want to bring these to the front burner, and provide some illumination on them in order for us to know the steps to take in the implementation of the imperatives imposed by these provisions.
Mr Speaker 10:38 a.m.
Hon Majority Leader, thank you very much.
Mr Mahama Ayariga 10:38 a.m.
Mr Speaker, thank you very much.
The Hon Majority Leader did mention action on article 22 (2) and article 181 (5) of the Constitution, with regard to the workshop in Koforidua. Mr Speaker, he mentioned eight committees that have been identified. So, I would want to know the eight committees, and whether all the members of the committees are to attend or some members of the committee would be selected. If some members would be selected, then I would want to know the basis on which the “some” were chosen.
Mr Ras Mubarak 10:38 a.m.
Mr Speaker, in view of the floods in the Upper East Region, which claimed about 28 lives, — floods that could be described as being of biblical proportion, — I had hoped that the Hon Minister responsible for the Interior would have been invited to the House to address the --
Mr Rockson-Nelson E. K. Dafeamekpor 10:48 a.m.
Mr Speaker, thank you for the opportunity.
I recall that when the Hon Deputy Majority Leader read the Business Statement for this week, she indicated a tall list of Bills that we would consider, and I know the House is ready to do Business. So, I had hoped to see some indication that we would start work on those Bills, but they have not been featured. I just would want to entreat the Hon Majority Leader that this is the time for us to start work on some of those Bills, so that from experience, we do not get heavy as we get to the end in December. This is my suggestion.
Mr Speaker 10:48 a.m.
Thank you very much.
Any other contribution?
Mr Emmanuel K. A. Buah 10:48 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I see that the Constitution Amendment Bill is listed to be read a Second time. As I look at it, I seek direction. I know it is on the minds of many Hon Members.
Recently, the Electoral Commission opened registration for people who have attained 18 years, but have not registered. There was then the exhibition of the Voters Register.
What I noted, which happened in a lot of the districts around my constituency was that, a lot of the people who registered did not find their names in the Voters Register. Some petition has gone to the Electoral Commission seeking direction on how to get the Electoral Commission to address that issue, and the steps they would take to rectify this anomaly since it is a very worrisome situation.
Could I be helped with the direction on how to get the Electoral Commission to address this issue?
Mr Mohammed Abdul-Aziz 10:48 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I would want to comment on the Business Statement for next week. I have seen that the Attorney- General and Minister for Justice is scheduled to answer a Question that stands in my name.
Meanwhile, there is this Question that I also filed somewhere in July, 2018. It is almost a year now, but it has not been scheduled for answering. I would want to know when that Question would also be

What I am saying is that, I filed a Question to the Hon Attorney- General and Minister for Justice somewhere in July, 2018. It is over a year now, but that Question has not been scheduled. The Hon Minister would appear in this House next week to answer a Question that also stands in my name. I would want to know whether the Business Committee could accommodate her to answer the other Question that I also filed.
Mr Speaker 10:48 a.m.
Could you mention the nature of the Question?
Mr Abdul-Aziz 10:48 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the Question is about the Hon Minister confirming whether, indeed, the President has received a petition from the La Traditional Council for the dismissal of the Chief Justice, Her Lordship Sophia Akuffo. That is exactly the Question I sought to ask the Hon Minister. [Laughter.]
Mr Governs K. Agbodza 10:48 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I thank you for the
opportunity to comment on the Business presented by our Hon Leader. I have noticed that majority of our workshops take place at Koforidua. I do not have any problem with it, but we could go to Cape Coast, Ada and other places. It is becoming a bit difficult for some of us as to why we should go to Koforidua all the time for our conferences.
Is it possible for Leadership to hold some of these workshops at any other place apart from Koforidua? We do not have a problem with going to Koforidua, but let us change the environment a bit. We could go to Cape Coast, Ada, or the Western Region. We could even go to Adaklu.
Mr Speaker 10:48 a.m.
Any other comment or issue on the Business Statement?
Hon Leader of the House, you may please respond.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 10:48 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the eight Committees that we agreed on earlier include the Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee, Finance Committee, Committee on Trade and Industry, Committee on Roads and Transport, Committee on Communications, Committee on Mines and Energy, Committee on Health and Committee on Defence and the Interior. These are the

Committees that we pre-selected and agreed on.

We agreed that leadership of the Committees being the Hon Chairmen, Vice-Chairmen, Hon Ranking Members, Hon Deputy Ranking Members, and one other member of all these Committees should be there. I think they need to have contact with them. If I should quickly run us through, these are just by way of a reminder.

For the Committee on Health, it is Hon (Dr) Kwabena Twum-Nuamah; Hon (Dr) Nana Ayew Afriye; Hon Kwabena Mintah Akandoh; Hon (Dr) Robert Baba Kuganab-Lem and Hon (Dr) Appiah Kubi. For the Committee on Mines and Energy; Hon Kwasi Gyamfi; Hon George Mireku Duker; Hon Mutawakilu Adam; Hon Dela Sowah and Hon Osei Frimpong. For the Committee on Communications; Hon Frederick Opare Ansah; Hon Andrew Kofi Agyapa Mercer; Hon Alhaji Bashir F. Alhassan and Hon Ras Mubarak. For the Committee on Defence and Interior, Hon Seth Kwame Acheampong; Hon Collins Owusu Amankwa; Hon James Agalga; Hon Mumuni Alhassan and Hon Thomas Ogajah. For the Finance Committee, Hon (Dr) Mark Assibey-Yeboah; Hon Kwabena Asiamah; Hon Cassiel

Ato Baah Forson, Hon Dr Kwabena Twum-Nuamah; Hon Alex Adomako- Mensah. For the Roads and Transport Committee, Hon Samuel Ayeh-Paye; Hon Kofi Brako; Hon Governs K. Agbodza; Hon Yussif Issaka Jajah and Hon Okyem Aboagye. For the Committee on Trade and Industry, Hon Nana Amaniampong Marfo; Hon Ato Panford; Hon Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah; Hon Ebenezer O. Terlabi and Hon Gifty Twum-Ampofo; and for the Committee on Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, Hon Ben A. Banda; Hon Ebenezer Kojo Kum; Hon Alhaji Fuseini Inusah; Hon Kofi N. Amoatey and Hon Kwame Anyimadu-Antwi.

These are the Hon Members pre- selected.

Hon Ras Mubarak said that some flooding of biblical proportions has taken place. I do not know the yardstick of measurement of the floods, he described it to be of very apocalyptic proportions, He tells us that the unfortunate transition of 28 is equivalent to the destruction of the world. Now, I know that this man speaks with highfalutin hyperbolic expression, and we leave it there.

He knows what to do if he wants to pursue this matter. I have not spoken to the Hon Minister for the Interior. I do not know whether he intends to come on his own volition.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 10:58 a.m.


Mr Speaker, Hon Rockson- Nelson Dafeamekpor — I almost said Rockson Agbodza -- wants to know the list of Bills that we have for consideration.

Mr Speaker, this morning, we met the Committee Chairpersons and Ranking Members, and we entreated them to touch base with their Hon Ministers to determine the priority Bills and Regulations so that we can deal with them. There is a tall list, as he said — about 48 Bills in all -- and the Regulations are about 29.

We do not have space in this budget Meeting, so we asked the Committee Chairpersons and their Ranking Members to touch base with their respective sponsoring Ministries, Agencies and authorities, to enable us know which ones are of priority in order for us to deal with them. This is because we have barely four weeks to consider all these before the consideration of the Budget Statement and Estimates.

Mr Speaker, Hon Armah-Kofi Buah related to two matters, and I do not really know what -- He says the Electoral Commission conducted some registration. First of all, he related to the constitutional amendment and left it there without

making any reference to it. I do not know how he situated it within the question that he asked, and then migrated somewhere else to ask a question about the registration exercise the Electoral Commission conducted and the fact that some names did not appear.

Mr Speaker, if that is the case, as an Hon Member of Parliament, he knows what to do. It has no relevance to the Business Statement. He should ask the relevant question, and perhaps we could bring the chairperson of the Electoral Commission here in a Committee of the Whole to respond to us. That is where they could give expression to the questions and outstanding issues that Hon Members would have, but certainly not in Plenary.

Mr Speaker, an Hon Member also said that he filed a Question in 2018 and that he sees that the Hon Attorney-General and Minister for Justice has been programmed to come to Parliament next week. So, he thinks that perhaps he could rope his own Question in for the Hon Attorney-General and Minister for Justice to come and respond to it.

As an Hon Member of Parliament, he knows that if one files a Question in one Session and the Session expires, one is supposed to resurrect the Question if one still has interest in
Mr Speaker 10:58 a.m.
Thank you very much, Hon Majority Leader.
The Business Statement for the Second Week is admitted accordingly.
Item 4, Questions.
Hon Minister for Roads and Highways?
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 10:58 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the Hon Minister for Roads and Highways is outside the jurisdiction, and he has sent one of the Hon Deputy Ministers to come and respond to the two Questions. He is in the person of Hon Owusu- Aduomi.
Mr Speaker 10:58 a.m.
Hon Deputy Minister, you may please take the appropriate seat.
ORAL ANSWERS TO 10:58 a.m.
QUESTIONS 10:58 a.m.
MINISTRY OF ROADS AND 10:58 a.m.
HIGHWAYS 10:58 a.m.
Ms Ackuaku 10:58 a.m.
Mr Speaker, could the Hon Minister confirm how soon work would begin on the installation of speed ramps, especially around the Dankyira and Domeabra basic school, and bus stops along the said road?
Mr Owusu-Aduomi 10:58 a.m.
Mr Speaker, speed ramps have been erected at some places. I do not know whether what the Hon Member wants are additional ones that she wants to do at some selected sections along the road; but I know that we have done speed ramps and bus stops. We have also done roadline markings, at least, at the centre line. What I know is that we are left with road line markings at the edges, which we would do in no time.
Ms Ackuaku 10:58 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the speed ramps end around Kasoa. From the Domeabra basic school stretching down to Ashalaja, we do not have any speed ramps there.
Mr Speaker 10:58 a.m.
Thank you very much.
Mr Owusu-Aduomi 11:08 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I will take care of this and we would ask the Department of Urban Roads to add it to the outstanding works that we have to do on this road.
Ms Ackuaku 11:08 a.m.
Mr Speaker, can the Hon Deputy Minister confirm if the Ministry has any plans to continue with the drainage work from Domeabra through Dankyira to Ashalaja? There is no drainage around there.
Mr Owusu-Aduomi 11:08 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I would not be able to know the drainage situation that the Hon Member referred to, whether it is an earth state and she would want us to do concrete lining. I know on that road, the drainage systems, as per the contract, have been completed, but if there is a section that needs special attention, that we need to do the drainage system on, then we would take it on board so that we construct them. The road is completed and the drains stated in the contract have been done.
Mr Speaker 11:08 a.m.
Question 639 -- Hon Armah-Kofi Buah
Contractual Terms - Esiama- Nkroful-Assasetre-Aiyinasi
Road
Q639.Mr Emmanuel Armah- Kofi Buah asked the Hon Minister for Roads and Highways whether the Esiama - Nkroful - Assasetre - Aiyinasi road is under contract, and if so, when the contractor would return to site to begin work.
Mr Owusu-Aduomi 11:08 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the Esiama-Nkroful-Aiyinasi road is located in the Ellembelle District of the Western Region. The road length,28km, is in poor condition. The road traverses several communities in the Oil and Gas enclave in the Western Region.
The Esiama - Telekubokazo - Aiyinasi road project was awarded on contract for Partial Reconstruction in September, 2015. The contractor on the project discontinued with the works, citing non-payment of work done as the main reason.
The Ghana Highways Authority agreed to the Ghana Gas Company's request to fund the reconstruction of
the Esiama - Nkroful - Aiyinasi road project, which they obliged to fund in three phases, thus three (3) lots.
Current programme
The road has been packaged into three (3) Lots for re - award under Ghana Gas funding and Government critical roads project.
The first phase of the upgrading of Esiama - Telekubokazo - Aiyinasi road project (km 0 -6.5) was awarded to Messrs Memphis Metropolitan Limited on 15th August, 2019. The project is being funded by Ghana Gas. The contractor is currently mobilising to start work.
Future programme
The remaining 20.0km section of the road, (that is km 6.5 - 26.5), has been re - packaged into two (2) Lots for rehabilitation. This procurement for award will commence in the last quarter of 2019.
Mr Buah 11:08 a.m.
Mr Speaker, in the Answer of the Hon Deputy Minister, the contract was awarded in September 2015 under the Govern- ment of Ghana. Mr Speaker, I am aware that the contractor under GoG completed clearing works, some earth works and drainage and a lot of works were done. In fact, they said that

physical progress of the work was 28 per cent.

Mr Speaker, we now know that the Government has terminated that contract after we had sent the contractor there to start work. Mr Speaker, in the Answer of the Hon Deputy Minister, it is also clear that the contractor, Messrs Memphis Metropolitan Limited, is only doing 6.5 kilometres of the road.
Mr Speaker 11:08 a.m.
Hon Member, you have three supplementary questions. Ask them one after the other.
Mr Buah 11:08 a.m.
Mr Speaker, in the Answer of the Hon Deputy Minister, the first slot of the road, 6.5 kilometres, has been given to Messrs Memphis Metropolitan Limited and the 22 kilometres is unmotorable. In the Answer, the Hon Deputy said that the condition of the road is very bad. I have engaged Ghana Gas and they said at the moment, they have no funds for lots 2 and 3. What steps is the Ministry taking to ensure that the road is motorable in the medium term? That is really the economic centre of the district; it is our food basket.
Mr Owusu-Aduomi 11:08 a.m.
Mr Speaker, this is a very complex question, but I will try and address it.
With regard to the first 6.5 kilometres which has been awarded
Mr Owusu-Aduomi 11:08 a.m.


to Messrs Memphis Metropolitan Limited, the Ghana Highway Authority (GHA) will take the contractor to site on Monday to give him possession. So, at least, kilometre 0-6.5 would be under the care of the contractor, Messrs Memphis Metropolitan Limited.

Mr Speaker, the Ministry is now considering whether Ghana Gas can continue the remaining 20 kilometres, which is also in a very poor surface condition or not. The Ministry itself has programmed this remaining 20 kilometres under our Critical Roads Project. So if Ghana Gas is not in a position to continue, the Government of Ghana, under the Consolidated Fund, would take it up.

Our understanding is that Ghana Gas would pay this from their budget and it is given by the Ghana National Petroleum Commission (GNPC). So if Ghana Gas is not able to continue, the 20 kilometres would be handled by the Government of Ghana.

In the meantime, while the road is in a poor surface condition, I believe we can do routine maintenance on it; grade the gravelled surface when the rains are over in November and make it very motorable for motorists to use.
Mr Speaker 11:08 a.m.
Hon Member, any further questions?
Mr Buah 11:08 a.m.
Mr Speaker, in the Answer of the Hon Deputy Minister, he said that 6.5 kilometres would be tackled by Ghana Gas and if they cannot fund lots 2 and 3, then the Government would consider constructing the road.
Mr Speaker, the Hon Deputy Minister is aware that the contract was already given under the Government of Ghana in 2015. The contractor went to site and then the Government terminated the contract and said that a limited liability company, which is already so indebted, must undertake the construction of that road.
Mr Speaker, can the Hon Deputy Minister and the Government of Ghana assure the people of Ellembele, in fact, the people of Nkroful, the birth place of our first President, that that road would be done by the Government of Ghana?
Mr Speaker 11:08 a.m.
Hon Deputy Minister, can you give us assurance?
Mr Owusu-Aduomi 11:08 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the Government terminated the first project because the contractor discontinued with the works due to non-payments.
Mr Speaker, the Hon Member mentioned a limited liability company, but Ghana Cocoa Board is also a limited liability company and they construct a lot of roads. That is not here or there. The most interesting thing is that the Government, realising the importance of this road in the oil and gas enclave, has also placed the 20 kilometres under its Critical Roads Project.
So, if Ghana Gas is not in the position, the Ministry of Roads and Highways is in the position to take it on and award it and use the Consolidated Fund to finance the project.
Mr Buah 11:08 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I would like to yield my last --
Mr Speaker 11:08 a.m.
Hon Member, this is a constituency-specific Question.
Mr Buah 11:08 a.m.
I wanted to yield my last opportunity to him.
Mr Speaker 11:08 a.m.
No, there is no yielding. Go on. If he has advised you in a certain way, it is for you to be on your feet.
Mr Buah 11:08 a.m.
Mr Speaker, can the Hon Deputy Minister assure this House that as quickly as possible, since in his Answer he admitted that
the road is in a very bad condition, some steps would be taken to maintain the road as we wait to sort this out?
Mr Speaker 11:18 a.m.
Yes, Hon Minister?
Mr Owusu-Aduomi 11:18 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I have indicated already that the road is in very poor surface condition. Immediately after the rains, which would come to an end at the end of October, up to the middle of November, we would have dry weather, and the Ghana Highways Authority would then embark on routine maintenance programme on that road.
They would do grading works and the side ditches, to make sure that the road becomes motorable for motorists, while we also continue with our procurement processes for the remaining 20 kilometres of the road.
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Mr Speaker 11:18 a.m.
Thank you very much, Hon Minister, for attending to the House to Answer our Questions. You are respectfully discharged.
Hon Members, there being no Statement duly admitted, we would move on to the item listed as 6 - At
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11:18 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the Hon Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration is also not available. I would therefore want to do the Presentation of Papers on her behalf.
[Pause] -
Mr Speaker 11:18 a.m.
Hon Members, the Hon Majority Leader would stand in for the Hon Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11:18 a.m.
Mr Speaker, that is so.
I would take the items listed as 6, all through from (i) to (vi).
PAPERS 11:18 a.m.
Mr Speaker 11:18 a.m.
Hon Majority Leader, any indication?
My Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu: Mr Speaker, yesterday, the Committee on Finance was supposed to submit two motions on tax waivers for the consideration of the House.
They were not able to complete them, and so I would want to urge that they retreat to finish up the work and submit the report to the House on Tuesday, so that the two of them could be taken.
Mr Speaker, the Hon Deputy Minister for Roads and Transport is with us, and the Committee on Roads and Transport is meeting immediately after the House adjourns.
We also have the Committees on Land and Forestry and Finance meeting today. Today is Friday, and so accordingly, having exhausted what we have listed for today, I would want to move, that the House adjourns till Tuesday, next week, at 10.00 a. m. in the forenoon.
I would also want to entreat these Committees to immediately recline to finish up with the work that has been programmed for them.
Mr Speaker 11:18 a.m.
Thank you very much.
Yes, Hon Minority Chief Whip?
Alhaji Muntaka 11:18 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to second the Motion.
Question put and Motion agreed to.
ADJOURNMENT 11:18 a.m.